Friday, August 8, 2014

There are dozens of hints, references, allusions, and nods in FX's Fargo towards the films of the Coen Brothers. Here is a growing, handy guide that I hope provides a better viewing experience and appreciation for the Coens and Noah Hawley. If you have any further references, suggestions or corrections, feel free to post them in the comment section. Enjoy!

Episode 1 - The Crocodile's DilemmaFargo: On the phone, rehearsing "I don't know what to do"Fargo: "License and registration, please."Fargo: The woodchipper at the Lucky PennyO Brother, Where Art Thou?: Penny is the name of Everrett' wife The Big Lebowski: The Dude would be interested in the $2.99 White Russian special

Episode 2 - The Rooster PrinceFargo: "Go Bears!"Fargo: Gustafson parking lotFargo: Molly's dinner with a random friendFargo: Unguent, the cream Lester and Gaear both put on their woundsThe Big Lebowski: Soiux City (Sarsaparilla)The Big Lebowski: Similar ransom notes Hudsucker Proxy: Scraping the name off the window on the door in the office Raising Arizona: Stavaros and his book American Phoenix point to Phoenix Farms' king Nathan ArizonaA Serious Man: Gus watches his seductive neighbor

Episode 3 - A Muddy RoadFargo: "funny-lookin' fella"No Country For Old Men: Mike ZossBarton Fink: "I'll leave it up to you, you're the writer"The Big Lebowski: "Deputy Knutsen" = Bunny's maiden nameRaising Arizona: The accounting firm Malvo drags his first victim from is named McDunnough & SnoatsTrue Grit: A box in a storage closet in Don Chumph's gym has the name "LeBouef" scrawled on it.

Episode 4 - Eating the Blame Raising Arizona/No Country For Old Men - Laying awake in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, making a decision and getting up to do it. Fargo: The money hidden in the snow (obvious)The Big Lebowski: "Uli's" drugstore references Uli Kunkel, the video editor

Episode 7 -Who Shaves the Barber?Fargo: The tv is overheard saying the line, "The bark beetle carries the worm to its nest." The same is heard at the end of the film.Fargo: "Showalter Block" referencing Carl ShowalterNCFOM: Police responding to a load insecurely tied down to a truckThe Man Who Wasn't There: Lester calls a cleanup crew called Reidenschnieder.Episode 8 - The HeapFargo: "Diefenbach Realty" is the company on the sign in front of the The Widow Hess' house.
("Riley Diefenbach" was the GM guy calling "Jerry" to explain the missing autos.)
Fargo: "Are we calm?! Are we calm?!" is similar to "Are we square?! Are we square?!"Fargo: Marge speech to Gaear/Molly speech to WrenchNCFOM: Malvo treats his wounds in a similar manner (as well as other characteristics throughout the show)

Episode 10 - Morton's FortBlood Simple: Bullet holes in the wall/doorNCFOM: Carson Wells' name is found on a cassette case in Malvo's suitcaseFargo: running on a frozen lake Fargo: "Yeah, you said that already." Carl says that to Jerry in the movie.
Lou said that to Lester here.Fargo: DLR license plate